DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

There was a time when parents felt assured that if they took their children to church, sent them to a good school and provided well for them, that spiritual success was imminent. Even if that was the case in years passed, that is a foolish and unlikely assumption in our modern world. The devil has sewn such confusion and immoral ideas into the very basics of human life that is now saturating everything our families encounter these days. As parents, we have to be diligent to help our kids sift through it all and throw out was is poisoned and cultivate what is pure. The best way to do that is with resources that support an engaged relationship and teach Biblical truths. Today’s review is from such a fun series that gives parents lots of opportunities to build up their children’s character. We’re talking about Otter B Free from Focus on the Family.

What We Received:

We received one hard back book, Otter B Free from Tyndale Publishing and Focus on the Family. It is 23 pages long with bright and colorful illustrations.

How It Works:

Otter B Free is book number nine in the Otter B children’s book series. This series follows Otter B through all kinds of Biblical character traits and opportunities to grow in those areas. Otter B Free capitalizes on The United State’s national holiday, Independence Day and talks about what freedom and independence mean from a Biblical perspective.

My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free.

But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin.

Instead, serve on another in love.

Galatians 5:13

The freedom we gain in Christ has often been misunderstood and used as a judgement against Christians. Even in Bible times, Paul scolded his readers by rejecting using this freedom as an excuse to sin more. Instead, this freedom is our opportunity to do good to those around us. Otter B exhibits very normal, human emotion in wanting to win the big trophy and take advantage of the best competitor having to sit out of the race, but we experience the words of his father and scripture change his perspective as he experiences the sadness and disappointment of Felicia, who is sitting out with a broken leg. Otter B’s greatest success in my opinion is looking for a solution that helps everyone, rather than just satisfying one of them. In most any quarrel, getting parties to consider a third alternative is the greatest challenge.

What We Thought:

I had heard of the Otter B series before, but I don’t believe I had ever read one before now. After this experience, I would highly recommend the series to families with children. In teaching in general it is so valuable to have the information coming from multiple sources. In character building, it is sometimes even more important to solidify understanding and conviction. Fill you children’s lives with books, characters, and programs that reinforce Biblical living and behavior. There plenty of things in the world that will challenge their faith, but it is our job to make sure they have a rich foundation in the things that matter. This book is a wonderful example of a small way you can add to the riches of that foundation.

Follow Tyndale Publishers & Focus on the Family on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TyndaleHouse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyndalehouse/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TyndaleHP

If you’re interested in other views of this book, check out the rest of the reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

The world is a scary and difficult place, there’s no denying. One of the motivations to homeschool is to avoid some of the ugliness in the world, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare them for the hardships and difficult choices that will undoubtedly face in their life. Many of those times will be when their parents are not around. Shouldn’t our children fill their heads with courageous characters who are willing to guard and protect what’s most important? For today’s review, we’re talking about a book and its accompanying resources, Light of Mine Unit Study - Premium from Towers of Light Christian Resources LLC.

What We Received:

We received Light of Mine Unit Study - Premium from Towers of Light Christian Resources LLC. which included the paperback book Light of Mine by Allen Brokken, 2 workbooks, 2 Pathway Personal Players and USB Drive. Along with the players, we were given two sets of headphones, 2 lanyards and 2 connection cables.

How It Works:

Light of Mine is a novel that combines fun and fantasy with the real fight of good verses evil. A 12 year old girl and her two little brothers must protect the Tower of Light on the farm that will guide their parents home. It is a book full of adventure and examples of faith and courage. The book is complete to be read on its own entirely. The workbook, however, is a great supplement that facilitates reading comprehension, vocabulary, scripture memorization, journal prompts, puzzles, hands-on activities, thought-provoking questions and a few coloring pages. There are even some fun jokes sprinkled in here and there! The workbook is intended for grades 3-6 and has a suggested pace of 4 weeks to complete, though going slower would easily be possible. The audio book/USB drive, as well as the personal players are a great bonus for listening as a family or for the reader who struggles. The USB drive even contains two bonus files of music. None of the supplemental resources are required to read the novel, but they do enhance the experience greatly!

What We Thought:

When we received this package, my two oldest children (11 and 9) were really excited and impressed at all the things we were given and that each had a personal inscription. All together it was a very generous gift and resource to our family. The book is a magical adventure that weaves scripture and faith throughout the chapters, which is a major plus for me. My daughter, the nature and animal lover, especially enjoyed the magical animals and you can never go wrong with a good coloring page! When you combine all the items together, it really is a great unit study that could be such a fun addition to your homeschool.

Follow Towers of Light Christian Resources on Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allenbrokkenauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allenbrokkenauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/allenbrokkenauthor/
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgCH5760tU--QQs7k_eA2Xg
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allenbrokkenauthor

Wondering what other families thought about Light of Mine? Read the other reviews through the link below.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

This week our co-op classes are starting up for the fall, soccer season has begun and our family is attempting to get back into the swing of things, but it can be hard. Being on the Homeschool Review Crew adds another layer of responsibilities and deadlines to the mix and it can make me weary. I’ve been asked before why I don’t just quit doing reviews since I’ve done it for several years now. Today’s review is a perfect example of why I still continue to do them. We live on one income and there isn’t a job I’ve found that will not take away from my family in a major way and while my husband provides for us very well, there’s no way we would can afford to just buy all the homeschool things on the regular just because they might be interesting. Jonathan Park is something I’ve seen advertised for probably a year or two, but have never investigated it. Today we’re reviewing The Adventure Begins, Series 1 from Jonathan Park and I’m happy to say it is a family favorite right now! I continue to participate in the Review Crew because I get a unique opportunity to explore resources - that often reinforce a Christian worldview - that I rarely would spend money on not knowing if it was worth it.

What We Received:

We received The Adventure Begins, Series 1 from Jonathan Park which included 4 audio CDs. Each CD contains over an hour’s worth of listening time.

How It Works:

This adventure series is intended to be listened to in order as it follows Jonathan and his father on adventures in a dinosaur graveyard. The conflict of a creation-based perspective and modern science’s big bang ideas is acknowledged in throughout the episodes as the characters work to preserve the archeological finds for a creation science museum. A Biblical worldview is well-represented while the characters also have to deal with realistic negative reactions from outside perspectives. It has all the markers of a great adventure with good guys and bad guys, Bible studies and dinosaur bones!

What We Thought:

For this review, my kids were 11, 9 and 5 years old. After listening to the first episode, they always asked to listen to the next one. That’s always a good sign! The characters provide a little something for everyone. My oldest (a boy) likes the Jonathan character, my daughter likes Jesse, and my 5 year old just likes the dog and finding all the bones! We aren’t finding dinosaur bones in our yard, but it is always nice to hear characters and stories my kids can relate to. Wrestling with circumstances where people don’t always see the world the same is our daily life in so many ways. I love that my kids can get a balanced understanding of that from places other than me. As a homeschool mom, there’s always more to do than time enough to do it in, but finding excellent resources for my family andt he future is worth a few extra deadlines!

Follow Jonathan Park on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanParkAudioAdventures

We are just one family and might not see everything the way you do. Check out the rest of the Crew’s reviews through the link below to see if they felt the same way about Jonathan Park

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

When money is tight, settling for a cheaper imitation is often the best we can do. When handling our children’s spiritual health and eternal future, we can’t afford to feed them watered down truths. There is a lot of spiritual parts floating around in our society, but it’s really hard to build the full picture from any of them. Learning to study the whole Bible and allowing scripture be the basis for all understanding takes work. As a homeschooling family, we are familiar with being the most important advocate in our children’s lives in so many areas, but their spiritual education is the biggest job there is. So it brings me extra joy to share with you a resource that brings students directly to scripture. For today’s review we are looking at 14:6 - The Way from Scripture Memory Fellowship, a scripture memory course on salvation.

What We Received:

We received 14:6 - The Way, a scripture memory course on salvation. It is a spiral-bound note pad with sturdy cardstock pages. The text recommends downloading an app, VerseLocker, to help with memorizing, which we did for free.

How It Works:

This scripture memory course is made up of 7 units of four lessons highlighting concepts of salvation. In each lesson there are 3 verses to memorize that address the study on salvation. Each lesson has a particular icon that can help you remember the subject of the verse. On the backside of the verse page, there is a Consider the Meaning page where the verse is dissected a bit more with context and comprehension questions. All is taken directly from scripture, not loosely based on it. There are different paces (Green, Orange or Brown) and levels (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) that you can expect out of yourself or students. Depending on your time and ability, these are the recommended pace options:

1 verse weekly = Green
2 verses weekly = Green + Orange
3 verses weekly = Green + Orange + Brown

To determine your level of success in reciting your verses, Scripture Memory Fellowship recommends:

Bronze - two helps

Silver - one help

Gold - zero helps

The ultimate goal that is included in each lesson is encouragement to share what you are learning with others. One of the other things it recommends is the free app VerseLocker. This app allows you several ways to work on verse memorization including picking the next word out of a list, remembering with only initials of the words or just typing it out on your own with the app correcting you. The app itself offers ways to connect with others if multiple friends are using the app too.

What We Thought:

The notebook itself is quite sturdy and promises to last beyond a first use. With one book and a whole family (most of which do not have their own devices), we used this program audibly a lot. It was easy to assign a verse to be written out and then discuss the meaning questions together as a group. With the grouping of verses in a topical format not only does this program support memorization, but it sets you up for Bible study alone or in a group. With the app added to the mix, there are so many resources to support learning and memorization. The final question is how can you use them best for your needs! There’s not wrong way besides just not using them and not growing in scripture.

Follow Scripture Memory Fellowship on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScriptureMemoryFellowship/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYz3gXtiXvHbGAKZ4A13kuQ

We used the English Standard Version of this program, but did you know that Scripture Memory Fellowship offer other versions? Check out the other reviews to see what else is available.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

The use of audiobooks just might be a hallmark of homeschooling, but that’s because they are a wonderful solution for so many kid situations that you don’t want to pull out a screen for. Riding in the car on a long trip? Audiobook saves the day. Need the kids to sit in one spot and (hopefully) not interrupt you? The right audiobook can give you space to focus. Finding books that reinforce scripture and engage your family in spiritual ideas is icing on the cake, right? Today’s review is just that! I’m talking about The Adventum, Volume 1 from The Adventum Audio Adventure series.

What We Received:

We received a digital download of The Adventum, Volume 1, an audio drama series that imagines what Biblical events were like as though you were really there.

How It Works:

In Latin, Adventum means “Arrival” and this project centers around the arrival of God’s redemption. Adventum, Volume 1 is part of a series of realistic adaptations of Bible stories. They currently offer 5 volumes and we are reviewing Volume 1. In Volume 1, this audio drama covers Creation to Jacob & Esau and includes 20 tracks each 10-20 minutes long. They offer a digital or physical version. The physical version includes 4 CDs. Each track or story is told with dramatic music, character dialogue and a narrator. The dialogue is not a direct quotation from scripture but an adaptation to what might be our modern day experience if we were experiencing it today. However, when quoting the voice of God, it is always a direct quote from the Bible.

What We Thought:

Since we received the digital version we downloaded it onto the computer the kids predominantly use and listened that way. In some ways, having CDs feels like it would be easier, but fewer and fewer of our devices even take CDs anymore that it just about evens out. We purchased a new to us car this summer and it didn’t even have a CD player! One of the things we noticed first about the stories is how intense the music was. My 5 year old got a little scared at first and my 9 year old agreed that it sounded a little creepy. As they listened to it for a while, they seemed to grow accustomed to it and it wasn’t an issue. When we first received this product, I set it up to play during lunch for my kids 11, 9 and 5 years old. It held their attention fine, but they didn’t ask for it on their own. Considering the stories are very familiar to them (since birth) I feel this series is best used as a conversation starter. “Do you think it happened like that? Would you have felt that way?” It definitely provides a good way to consider how we see stories in scripture and how realistic our notions are. For families new to the Bible, these definitely instigate learning and curiosity. Regardless of your background, The Adventum is an engaging and useful resource to add to your audio collection.

Follow The Adventum on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theadventum

Are you interested in learning what other families thought? Click through the link below to read the rest of the reviews.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

My husband and I love traveling and our kids have taken their fair share of road trips so far in their lives. One of the common pre-trip activities they do is prepping out their backpack with coloring and activity sheets they print off the internet. I’ve done it for them when they were small, but now that the older ones have big opinions and the ability to do it, I leave it to them. Still, child or adult would agree that finding what you want and getting it printed off right can be a frustrating endeavor. Having a place to go to for any kind of supplementary printables comes in handy when prepping for a car trip but even more so for the homeschooling life. In today’s review, we are looking at Super Teacher Worksheets, a printable resource website.

What We Received:

We received a full 1-year membership to Super Teachers Worksheets that allows us unlimited downloads/access.

How It Works:

With our membership, we received access to everything the website offers. The grade level ranges from Preschool to about 6th grade and includes all major subjects like language arts, math, science, social studies, but also activities like puzzles, games, bookmarks, coloring pages, holiday themed pages. There are common core aligned categories and a worksheet generator that is great for practicing math facts or constructing your own test type sheets. You can search in categories or by grade level. There is a My Filing Cabinet section where you can save worksheets you would like to remember or come back to. This website is good for anyone trying to supplement children’s education, but especially useful in homeschooling, especially those with multiple children.

What We Thought:

My children at 5, 9 and 11 are spread ideally in age across what this website offers. My five year old really enjoyed the color by numbers in the kindergarten category. Everyone utilized the coloring pages, though I think they would enjoy some more advanced ones added to the mix. There were math pages for everyone that were really helpful for diving into a specific skill like area or fractions. The worksheet generator is also very handy when what you need isn’t readily available. In addition to general reading comprehension, spelling and grammar, there were also some chapter book unit studies like Charlotte’s Web and The Boxcar Children. Like this, many of the activities could serve as a focus of the curriculum or work as a beautiful supplement to whatever you find yourself doing. We didn’t experience any trouble with the website or printing either, which is always a nice sign. The image quality is nice and clear, which is great for younger students as well. Overall this website has been a great resource, especially for families with elementary aged children.

Follow Super Teacher Worksheets on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superteacherworksheets/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuperTeacherWks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superteacher_worksheets/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/superteacherwks/

Wondering what other families thought about this resource? Click on the link below to read their reviews too.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

It’s one thing to read a story once, but it’s another thing to explore it a second time through a Biblical lens. A blessing of homeschool is that you can spend as much or as little time on a book or subject as you deem necessary. Our family has read many books together and our voracious readers often steal away to read ahead, but it is a different experience to truly study it. Today we’re talking about the study guide company, Progeny Press and two of their study guides, The Story of Ping Study Guide and The Last Battle Study Guide.

What We Received:

We received a digital copy each of The Story of Ping Study Guide and The Last Battle Study Guide..

How It Works:

Each study guide Progeny Press offers does not include the book it is studying so you must obtain it on your own. In most cases, these books are at your local library. Each guide comes with a variety of sections that explore different components of the story and of scriptural context. The Story About Ping, intended for grades K-2, includes activities like researching how big a duck is, vocabulary words from the story, learning about ancient China or reading in Genesis to determine which day God made ducks. The Last Battle, intended for grades 5-8, includes prereading activities like researching hand-to-hand combat or studying all the passages in the Bible that discuss being a hypocrite. The bulk of the study guide goes through the chapters in order and provides corresponding activities like word puzzles, context scripture questions and all manner of reading comprehension elements. From author information to geography to a deep dive into scripture, these study guides really flesh out what it means to study. While there is a Table of Contents at the beginning and an Answer Key at the end, the order of activities isn’t set or required. Prereading activities can be just as engaging during or after reading the book, but the order is a logical recommendation.

What We Thought:

The Story About Ping was the most age appropriate for my 5 year old. Since he isn’t reading on his own - as might often be the case in that age group - the study guide is suited to a parent walking the student through questions and activities. The Last Battle was given to my 11 year old son and he worked largely independently, though we talked about it quite a bit. In both cases, these study guides effectively enhanced each child’s education and reading experience. The chapter groupings in The Last Battle study guide were 2 to 3 chapter groups, but my son said he wished it went one chapter at a time. I think for focus and attention purposes, it might help pull a sluggish reader or writer along. From a parent and educator perspective, these study guides are rich with perspective and all kinds of learning enhancements. Progeny Press is an important company to remember when you’re looking to fill out your next homeschool unit.

Follow Progeny Press on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progenypress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/progenypress
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/progenypress/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProgenyPress

Wondering about the other study guides the Crew reviewed? Check the link below to read all the reviews!

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

As my 11 year old son is heading into the 6th grade, we are making a change. He has used one curriculum for math his entire elementary education, but this year we need to cut out squabbling over right and wrong answers. The best way to do that is for mom to not be the work checker, but a computer instead. You can’t argue with a computer nearly as much! Since this year is my 7th year as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew and I feel like the one company I’ve reviewed for the most is CTCMath, I feel confident in knowing what I’m getting myself into when making this jump to CTCMath exclusively. We have used it in a supplement capacity every time we have reviewed it before but this will be the first year we rely on it for a complete math education. Today we are going to review the 12 month family membership from CTCMath.

What We Received:

We received the 12 month family membership from CTCMath that includes online access to K-12 math curriculum for our three children.

How It Works:

CTCMath is a complete online curriculum with video lessons, questions, diagnostic tests, math facts games, weekly reviews, and printable practice sheets. Each student has access to all grades at all times. Whatever grade and topic they complete will be recorded, tracked and averaged for a overall as well as detailed look at their work and grade. Through the parent dashboard, I can assign assignments with deadlines at any time. Besides the recording of correct answers and average scores, there is no timeline or schedule to keep within the program. Timelines are purely up to the parent/teacher. Since students can access all grades at all time, the program is entirely flexible to your family’s needs. If a student needs help on a particular topic that actually begins in a previous grade, it is a seamless transition to the other grade. The flexibility of this program allows it to be a complete math curriculum OR only a supplement that fills in gaps whenever needed. In many ways, it is an ideal homeschool program.

What We Thought:

We have never focused on grades or tests in our homeschool, but with math our focus is on mastery. Using CTCMath as the primary has allowed the kids to gradually adapt to percentage scores through tests and reviews. My 11 year old is somewhat stereotypical for a boy in that he’s perfectly capable of doing well in math, but tends to drag his feet if it requires more than a second’s worth of mental energy. That has resulted in a growing amount of arguing over answers and completed assignments with him especially. With CTCMath, a grade on any test or assignment is immediate and not something to debate. If he has trouble it, he’s more likely to ask for help than to argue the answer since I’m not the one telling him it’s right or wrong. Since older brother is doing it, we had my 9 year old daughter start in on the 4th grade material in place of the books she used last year. It has run smoothly except there are things (like decimals) that she hasn’t covered or didn’t remember which easily frustrated her at first, but getting in the habit of going back to the 3rd grade to see how it was introduced there has addressed the problem. CTCMath is a long-running program that is extremely versatile and proven to fill math needs wherever needed.

Follow CTCMath on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctcmath/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CTCMathOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctcmath/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/ctcmath/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ctcmathyoutube

Are you concerned about how it works in high school? Check out the rest of the reviews through the link below to see what other families thought.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

As a 42 year old woman looking back at my adolescence, it is incredibly easy to see all the lies I believed, especially those that would shape the rest of my development. But that was 30 years ago. The amount of media that our kids consume - often without even trying to - is enormous and not going away on its own. As parents, we have to equip our children with proactive defenses against all these ideas that undermine God’s place in this world and our children’s true value. To that end, it is important to have tools that can help equip them. I’m so grateful that the Homeschool Review Crew makes it possible for our family to explore resources that are designed to feed and fuel our families for the future. Today, we are reviewing Lies Girls Believe and A Mom's Guide to Lies Girls Believe from True Girl.

What We Received:

We received to paperback books, Lies Girls Believe by Dannah Gresh and A Mom’s Guide to Lies Girls Believe & the Truth That Sets Them Free by Dannah Gresh.

How It Works:

Lies Girls believe is a book intended for girls age 9-12 to read on their own. From the first page, where girls are invited to write their name as co-author of the book, it is a very interactive book that encourages colored pencil writing throughout the chapters. Through quizzes, questions and quality interactive illustrations, girls get the chance to take a look at themselves, how they feel and possible lies they could be believing without even realizing it. This book appropriately hits on subjects like God being good enough, mean girls, the value of our family, genders, periods, and friendship, to name a few. Girls are walked through relatable examples and questions that can show the danger of believing lies and ways to avoid it.

While girls can read their book independently whether mom has this companion or not, A Mom’s Guide to Lies Girls Believe is intended to be read at the same pace and at the same time as their daughters are reading their book. Mom’s book explains the necessity of the Girls book, shows glimpses of what the girls are reading about, questions to discuss with their daughters at the end of chapters, suggested prayer prompts and discusses lies mom’s believe. In both books there is an emphasis on our feelings and how they can swing too far on the pendulum in both directions, which usually gets us in trouble. The first lie she addresses for mom’s is this idea that either we have supreme control over the influences our daughters experience or that we have zero control over what happens to our daughters. Both are lies and truth lies somewhere in the middle, as it usually does. The Mom’s Guide is a valuable tool in reinforcing the truths found in the girls book but especially in deepening the mother daughter relationship as they face adolescence.

What We Thought:

My daughter, Zoey just turned 9 last month. She immediately dove into the book and LOVED it. It was extra special that the main character in the book is named Zoey too (and they spelled it right, she loves to remind me!) Anything that we are supposed to do together, she gets excited about. She immediately got out her colored pencils, underlined and wrote in all the things as she read along. From a mom’s perspective, there are some topics that aren’t necessarily on her radar yet, but that’s all the better to me. She’s close enough that I would much rather her have a healthy perspective on subjects - like her period or gender questions - BEFORE she’s in turmoil about them. With us discussing things at the end of every chapter, it gives her a safe space to ask questions and for me as her mom to connect with her on the individual topics. Before I had a daughter or even 5 years ago, I might of had a take it or leave it kind of attitude for something like this. It’s easy to convince yourself that if you have a good relationship with God and your child, nothing much more is needed. After looking at a resource like this and having a 9 year old daughter who is staring down adolescence, I feel very differently. I know that I can’t ensure the ultimate protection for my daughter, just like my mother couldn’t for me, but going through books like these can give you a head start and a great defense against the devil’s arrows that are certainly coming. I recommend every daughter and mother read these books together!

Follow True Girl on Social Media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/truegirlofficial
Instagram: www.instagram.com/truegirlofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3iKzBBy2jjAwPzweKNbpCw

Is Lies Girls Believe something your daughter could benefit from? Click on the link below to read other reviews of this product so you can make an informed decision.

DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVED THIS COMPLIMENTARY PRODUCT THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW.

You don’t have to be an expert to provide your children a solid education. Those saying otherwise clearly aren’t paying attention. Aside from a stereo-typical inner-city public school art education, I have zero training in drawing, painting, water colors, clay or any other hands-on art. It never came naturally to me so I generally avoided it growing up. Despite that, my kids have a decent understanding of the subject and are producing works far beyond my ability. A lot of that can be attributed to being exposed to some great instructors and resources along the way. One of our favorites is ARTistic Pursuits! Thanks to the Homeschool Review Crew we now own at least 4 of their products. Last year we reviewed Drawing with Graphite Pencils, Art Core 1 and this summer we have been enjoying Painting with Watercolor Pencils, Art Core 2.

What We Received:

We received Painting with Watercolor Pencils, Art Core 2 which included a hardback textbook, 2 DVDs, and access to the digital course on the Artistic Pursuits’ website.

How It Works:

As the second book in the Art Core series, Painting with Watercolor Pencils is designed for students in 4-6th grade, upper elementary ages. To complete the lessons you are required to obtain supplies on your own that includes, watercolor paper, watercolor pencils, and certain brushes. This course gives students a strong introduction to color theory and watercolor painting techniques. The book is designed to be used in conjunction with either the DVDs or the online videos. There are 27 text lessons in the book and 9 video lessons online or on DVD. The text lessons are simple and direct, incorporating art history, painting techniques and other student examples that gives you a variety of levels to compare your work to. The book recommends 2 lessons per week and allows for students’ independence or parental involvement.

What We Thought:

My 11 year old boy and 9 year old girl both used this program. My 5 year old really wanted to be involved but I opted to leave him out mostly because I didn’t want to buy supplies for him when he may or may not utilize them very well and he’s far below the recommended age. My older two have used Artistic Pursuits before so they were familiar with the format and the instructor. Getting started was very simple and they enjoyed all the lessons and creating. Their biggest complaint was about their sibling not going at the same pace as them, but that’s a not a curriculum fail as much as a family relations issue. When I am not involved they are inclined to skip the text lessons unless it directly applies to the video simply due to ease of use. It is easier to sit and watch a video rather than reading the page to your sister! Still, even if students never touched a text lesson, which is not recommended, students can still gain a big understanding of painting with watercolors and spark an interest in the subject. I am so thankful to have books like these on my bookshelf that we can utilize at any time, not just a one time course.

Follow ARTistic Pursuits on Social Media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artisticpursuitsinc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ARTisticPursui1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artisticpursuitsinc/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk75eIpDhZUqbr1On5xEQJQ

The Homeschool Review Crew used a variety of products from ARTistic Pursuits. Explore all they have to offer your family through the link below.